Surviving on a desert island is tough. Living on coconuts and dodo eggs alone can get boring fast, you’ll agree. But the pirate from Windrose has a head start—the ocean around him is literally teeming with seafood. The key is knowing how to get it.
Fishing in survival games isn’t just a way to avoid starvation. Fresh fish buffs your stats and restores your health. So, a fishing rod is essential. We’ll tell you how to craft one, where to fish, and what to do with your catch.
Table of Contents
How to make your first fishing rod in the Foothills resources and crafting
It all starts in the Foothills biome. Until you get there, you will not be able to craft a proper fishing rod—you will not have enough resources. You need hardwood and iron, which are found in the Foothills.
A Basic Fishing Rod can be crafted at a level 2 workbench. The recipe is not particularly complicated: 5 hardwood, 3 rope, and 2 iron ingots. Once you have assembled it, equip it and head to any body of water.
That is why the developers did not overcomplicate the minigames. Fishing in Windrose is as simple as it gets: cast your line, wait for the splash, press the attack button, and the fish is yours. No tension bars or timing requirements.
Fishing mechanics and getting fillets in Windrose
The process will actually take about ten seconds. Approach the water, press the left mouse button (standard attack), and cast. Watch the float. As soon as the line tightens and you hear the characteristic splash, press attack again. That is it, the fish is in your inventory.
Raw, it is no good—no profit. Open your backpack, right-click the fish, and select “Use Item.” You will receive a Fish Fillet. Then, onto the fire or stove. The prepared dishes will provide those same stat and health buffs.
It is worth clarifying: different types of fish apparently provide different bonuses. But the developers have not yet revealed the exact list. So experiment—maybe a particular fish will provide an unexpected effect.
Where can I find the Fisherman’s Ring and a list of all ten fish species
Caught your first fish or found ten in chests? The Fisherman’s Ring will unlock. Equip it and instantly receive a buff: +15% chance to catch more fish. Upgrade the ring, and the bonus increases to 30%. A small, but nice touch.
Currently, there are ten fish species in Windrose. The developers, judging by the hints, may add more. But for now, this is the list.
Important: keep an eye on your inventory. Common fish stack in stacks of 10. But epic fish—the cheeky ones—take up an entire slot. Plan your fishing trips wisely.
Where to fish and what will you catch? We divide it into two zones.
What fish are found in shallow waters List and fillet drops
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Blue Tang
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Moonfish
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Kingfish
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Reef Snapper
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Pink Wrasse
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Sapphire Wrasse
Deep Sea Fish in Windrose Rare and Epic Species
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Red Snapper (Rare, 8-12 Fillets)
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Emerald Bluefish (Rare, 8-12 Fillets)
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Giant Mackerel (Epic, 18-24 Fillets)
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Great Barracuda (Epic, 18-24 Fillets)
By the way, there is a funny thing. Sometimes, instead of a fish, you will catch a Crusher. It is not food. It is a melee weapon. Yes, a fish carcass that you can use to hit your enemy. The recipe for it will automatically be added to your inventory. It is a useful thing—you cannot eat it, but you can use it to fight. A kind of compliment from the developers.
The best fish dishes in Windrose food effects and buffs
Raw fillet in Windrose is just a basic, semi-finished product with little effect. The real magic of survival happens over a campfire or a stove. The leveling logic is simple: the more powerful your workbench, the more powerful the buffs. While a regular campfire simply allows you to survive from hunger, a level 2 stove turns your catch into delicacies that significantly boost stamina, cold resistance, and regeneration speed.
An important nuance lies in the rarity of the ingredients. Rare fish provide longer-lasting and more powerful effects. For example, a dish based on the epic Giant Mackerel will be far more effective than a meal made with Pink Wrasse. Although you will end up with the same number of fillets, the quality of the buff will be incomparable.
Common Fish Recipes Sailor’s Stew and Fried Fillet
Uncommon fish are your main resource at the start. They are caught in packs, and the bonuses, though modest, are consistent.
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Fried Fillet: The easiest option for a campfire. It not only fills your hunger bar, but also provides +5-8 HP regeneration outside of combat. This is quite enough for safe farming in the Foothills without wasting medkits.
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Sailor’s Stew: For this soup, you will need Blue Tang and Sapphire Wrasse. The recipe will unlock towards the mid-game. Do not forget about salt—you will have to obtain it by evaporating seawater in a special vat. But the result is worth the effort: +20% running speed for a full 4 minutes. The perfect boost for quick marches between biomes.
The best food in Windrose how to cook Fish Pie
Once you reach the Red Snapper, Barracuda, or Emerald Blue Mackerel, the food shortage problem will disappear forever. One such fish drops between 8 and 24 fillets. One successful boat trip will provide you with provisions for the next week.
Fish Pie is rightfully considered the ultimate choice for boss fights. It instantly restores all health upon consumption and applies a powerful regeneration buff. Essentially, it is your legal “second life” in a protracted fight.
Why You Should Not Waste Epic Fish on Simple Recipes
The biggest mistake beginners make is using Epic fish in simple recipes. If you put Barracuda in a basic Fried Fillet recipe, you will get the same +8 HP as the cheapest Snapper. The Windrose system does not scale fish rarity in simple recipes, so this is simply a waste of valuable loot.
Also, keep an eye on Sashimi’s expiration date. This dish must be consumed immediately. It will turn into Rotten Fish in your inventory after just six in-game hours. You cannot even use this rotten fish to charge the Crusher—it will end up in the compost bin.
